French student protests disrupt more than 700 schools as arrests rise

More than 700 schools were disrupted as student protests over education standards spread across France, with fires and clashes involving riot police, BBC News reported. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 1,747 people were arrested on Friday. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said the unrest had moved from high-school demonstrations to a public-order disturbance.

Darmanin said 735 of France’s 3,700 schools had been affected in some way. The protests began in Paris before spreading to cities including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille. Students have objected to a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, long school hours, hot classrooms and run-down buildings.

Planned budget cuts affecting education funding have added to their anger, according to the report. The education ministry said at least 65 staff members had been injured. A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after a police officer was targeted in Belfort.

BBC Verify authenticated videos showing the officer being beaten, according to the report. Fires and damage were reported at several locations. In Nantes, Nelson Mandela high school suffered more than €2m in damage after fire destroyed its glass entrance and parts of the building, the regional government said.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the movement had been hijacked by non-students, while several unions backed the protesters. Darmanin said prosecutors had been asked to hold parents liable for damage caused by their children.